Greg George Hillebrand

Quantitative evaluation of skin condition in an epidemiological survey of females living in northern versus southern Japan

Image analysis and biophysical methods were used to compare the skin condition of a group of females ranging in age from 5 to 65 years who had lived all of their lives in either Kagoshima (n=300), located in southern Japan, or Akita (n=302), located in northern Japan. Kagoshima annually receives approximately 1.5 times more solar UVB radiation than Akita. The methods used and corresponding skin parameters reported in this survey were: high resolution digital imaging followed by computer analysis of facial images for facial skin wrinkling and hyperpigmentation; silicone skin replicas followed by Moiré interferometry for facial skin surface roughness (texture); the Minolta Chromameter for skin color (L*a*b*) on sun-exposed (forehead) and sun-protected (upper inner arm) skin sites; the Corneometer for skin capacitance (hydration) on the cheek and ventral forearm; the Sebumeter for sebum excretion rate on the forehead; and the Minolta Spot Thermometer for skin temperature on the upper cheek. Compared with Japanese women living in Akita, Japanese women living in Kagoshima had significantly longer facial wrinkles, higher number of wrinkles, larger hyperpigmented spots, higher number of spots, rougher facial skin texture, more yellow foreheads and upper inner arms, darker foreheads, and less stratum corneum hydration in the cheeks and arms. When compared on an age-for-age basis, the average 40-year-old Kagoshima women has the same level of facial wrinkling as a 48-year-old Akita women, a delay of 8 years for living in the northern latitude. For facial hyperpigmentation, the delay is 16 years; the average 40-year-old Kagoshima women has the same level of facial hyperpigmentation as a 56-year-old Akita women. The results further testify to the skin damaging effects of sun exposure and may be useful in public health education to promote everyday sun protection.

Comparison of the epidemiology of acne vulgaris among Caucasian, Asian, Continental Indian and African American women.

Background  Acne vulgaris is a common skin disease with a large quality of life impact, characterized by comedones, inflammatory lesions, secondary dyspigmentation and scarring. There are few large objective studies comparing acne epidemiology between racial and ethnic groups.

Acne Vulgaris in Women: Prevalence Across the Life Span

BACKGROUND Acne vulgaris is a common skin disease with a large quality of life impact, characterized by comedones, inflammatory lesions, secondary dyspigmentation, and scarring. Although traditionally considered a disease of adolescence, reports suggest it is also a disease of adults, especially adult women. Our objectives were to determine acne prevalence in a large, diverse group of women and to examine acne by subtype and in relation to other skin findings, measurements, and lifestyle factors. METHODS We recruited 2895 women aged 10-70 from the general population. Photographs were graded for acne lesions, scars, and dyspigmentation. Measurements were taken of sebum excretion and pore size, and survey data were collected. RESULTS Of the women studied, 55% had some form of acne: 28% had mild acne, and 27% had clinical acne, 14% of which was primarily inflammatory and 13% of which was primarily comedonal. Acne peaked in the teenage years, but 45% of women aged 21-30, 26% aged 31-40, and 12% aged 41-50 had clinical acne. Women with inflammatory acne were younger than those with comedonal acne (p≤0.001), and postmenopausal women had less acne than age-matched peers (p<0.0001). Acne was associated with facial hirsutism (p=0.001), large pores (p=0.001), and sebum excretion (p=0.002). Smokers had more, primarily comedonal, acne than nonsmokers. CONCLUSIONS The cross-sectional design precludes conclusions about progression of acne with age. Participation was restricted to women. The photographic nature of the study imposes general limitations. Techniques used in this study were not sufficiently sensitive to identify cases of subclinical acne. More than a quarter of women studied had acne, which peaked in the teens but continued to be prevalent through the fifth decade.

Development of a digital imaging system for objective measurement of hyperpigmented spots on the face.

Background/aims: There are few available methods that can be used to quantify hyperpigmented spots on a wide area of the face. The objective of this study was to develop such a method through the use of specialized image analysis technologies.

Lifestyle Factors and Visible Skin Aging in a Population of Japanese Elders

Background The number of studies that use objective and quantitative methods to evaluate facial skin aging in elderly people is extremely limited, especially in Japan. Therefore, in this cross-sectional study we attempted to characterize the condition of facial skin (hyperpigmentation, pores, texture, and wrinkling) in Japanese adults aged 65 years or older by using objective and quantitative imaging methods. In addition, we aimed to identify lifestyle factors significantly associated with these visible signs of aging. Methods The study subjects were 802 community-dwelling Japanese men and women aged at least 65 years and living in the town of Kurabuchi (Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, Japan), a mountain community with a population of approximately 4800. The facial skin condition of subjects was assessed quantitatively using a standardized facial imaging system and subsequent computer image analysis. Lifestyle information was collected using a structured questionnaire. The association between skin condition and lifestyle factors was examined using multivariable regression analysis. Results Among women, the mean values for facial texture, hyperpigmentation, and pores were generally lower than those among age-matched men. There was no significant difference between sexes in the severity of facial wrinkling. Older age was associated with worse skin condition among women only. After adjusting for age, smoking status and topical sun protection were significantly associated with skin condition among both men and women. Conclusions Our study revealed significant differences between sexes in the severity of hyperpigmentation, texture, and pores, but not wrinkling. Smoking status and topical sun protection were significantly associated with signs of visible skin aging in this study population.

Utilization of a high-resolution digital imaging system for the objective and quantitative assessment of hyperpigmented spots on the face

Background/aims:  The aim of this study was to quantify and confirm the efficacy of cosmetic formulations for hyperpigmented spots over a wide area of the face using a high quality digital imaging system that we developed.

The efficacy of glycolic acid for treating wrinkles: analysis using newly developed facial imaging systems equipped with fluorescent illumination

The clinical characteristics of photodamaged skin, such as coarse and fine wrinkling, can not be quantitatively evaluated from ordinary photographic records. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of glycolic acid (GA) peeling on facial wrinkling, using computer assisted image analysis. This was accomplished with reproducible imaging techniques, which allowed precise repositioning of the subjects face in front of the camera. Two parameters, the change in wrinkle number and the change in wrinkle length were assessed. Although the clinical improvement of wrinkles correlated with both parameters, wrinkle length more precisely reflected the degree of clinical wrinkles, because the wrinkle number appeared to increase as some shallow wrinkles divided into multiple smaller wrinkles during their improvement. Comparison of responses by different age groups showed that the reduction of total wrinkle length was observed in the order of: 50s>30s and 40s>60s>over 70>under 30. The lack of response by subjects over 70 might be due to the nature of their wrinkles being mainly coarse wrinkles rather than fine ones. We next compared the effect of GA by concentration (35, 50 or 70%), but found no significant differences. As the concentration of GA used for treatment was determined by each subjects erythema reaction, our present result suggests that erythema elicited by GA correlates with improvement of wrinkles and that these two phenomena can be induced by a common pathway of GA treatment. This quantitative analysis clearly shows the efficacy and limitation of GA treatment of wrinkles, and might help to disclose the precise mechanisms of GA effects on the skin structure and function.

Capturing skin properties from dynamic mechanical analyses.

Existing skin mechanical testing devices focus on measuring skin elasticity and are not tailored to assess the dynamic behavior of skin. Additionally, the mathematical techniques used in existing devices are often not optimal.

Sunlight Exposure May Be a Risk Factor of Hearing Impairment: A Community-Based Study in Japanese Older Men and Women

BACKGROUND Oxidative stress is an important factor in the pathology of age-related hearing loss. Recent animal studies have reported that ultraviolet radiation in sunlight is related to systemic induction of oxidative stress. Chronic sun exposure leads to photodamaged skin, which is manifested as facial skin wrinkling and hyperpigmentation. We hypothesized that sunlight exposure, as assessed by the severity of facial skin photodamage, might be associated with hearing impairment through an oxidative stress mechanism. To examine this, we performed a cross-sectional analysis by using the baseline data from a community-based cohort study of older Japanese. METHODS A total of 805 residents (342 men and 463 women) aged 65 years or older living in Kurabuchi Town, Gunma prefecture, Japan, were examined between 2005 and 2006. Facial skin condition was quantified by image analysis of standardized facial images. Hearing impairment was defined as a failure to hear a 30-dB signal at 1 kHz and a 40-dB signal at 4 kHz in the better ear in pure-tone audiometric tests. RESULTS In men, facial wrinkle was positively associated with hearing impairment (for highest vs lowest: multivariate-adjusted odds ratio, 2.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-4.66; p for trend = .01). Stratified analysis by age, educational level, smoking status, sunscreen or foundation use, and diabetes showed results similar to those for men as a whole. This association was particularly pronounced in men with the low levels of antioxidants and without occupational noise exposure. We observed no apparent association in women. CONCLUSIONS The results support the hypothesis that chronic sun exposure is a risk factor of hearing impairment.

Dynamic Infrared Linear Dichroism (DIRLD) Spectroscopy Of Human-Hair Keratin

Dynamic infrared linear dichroism (DIRLD) spectroscopy is used to study time-dependent changes in human-hair keratin films under small-amplitude oscillatory strain. The amplitude and rate of submolecular reorientation observed are very dependent on the molecular environment of the functional group being probed. DIRLD spectra of keratin films are extremely sensitive to molecular-level changes induced by temperature, relative humidity, and the addition of hair-treatment actives. By using correlation analysis, DIRLD data can be represented in a two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) format to compare the reorientation rates of individual dipole-transition moments. 2D IR spectra provide a clear resolution enhancement of the naturally broad amide I and amide II IR absorbance bands. The net result is an improved molecular-level understanding of the mechanical properties of human hair and identification of factors affecting these properties.